1998 Audi A6 Quattro from North America - Comments

When the car was less than two years old the headlights started flashing on and off, the interior lights pulsed on and off, the side windows went down and up of their own accord, and the door locks locked and unlocked repeatedly. Subsequently the dealer replaced the appropriate computer under warranty.

Last summer while on a weekend trip with my wife and two sons the passenger-side floor started filling with water as we drove. Over the course of the 500 or so mile trip we had to stop roughly every hour to "bail" up to two inches of standing water out of the rear passenger floor area. The next evening we drove out of the hotel parking lot and the car slammed to a stop in the middle of the access road: all four brakes had locked and the transmission was inoperative (i.e. there was no effect when I shifted from one gear to another.) By turning the ignition switch off and restarting the car three or four times I was able to move the car to the side of the road. It was flat-bedded to the nearest dealer who subsequently diagnosed the problem as a clogged air conditioner drain which then caused two computers in the center tunnel to short out. The charge for replacing two computers was just over $4,000.00 Both the dealer and Audi USA disclaimed any responsibility for the problem, stating that: 1) the car was out of warranty; and 2) that it was routine for dealer mechanics to check and clean the air conditioner drain when a car was in for service. Our car has been maintained at an independent repair shop for some time and therefore this was not done. There is no reference to the need to perform this check or service (and the risk of not doing so) in the Owner's Manual or any other literature provided by Audi. We have subsequently learned from ex-Audi mechanics that 1998 and 1999 Audi's are known for this problem, i.e. water from clogged air conditioner drain or even from melting snow on the floor causing the floor-mounted computers to short out. (In later models Audi apparently enclosed the computers in a plastic case and moved them off the floor to attempt to solve the problem.)

Had these computers shorted out while my family and I were en-route traveling on a six to eight lane interstate highway at 75 - 80 mph, we would almost certainly have been killed.

We have filed a complaint with the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration.

My goal is to have all cars with this design defect recalled.

Ever thought about having it serviced at an authorized Audi dealership instead of "independent"?

Checking the A/C drain tube is the 1st item on the Audi

service sheet:

"Plenum Chamber and water drain valves: Check for dirt and

clean if necessary"

Audi Part# AGA A00948.

Every dealer shoud be working from these for service.

Perhaps use an authorised dealer from now on?

The last time I was at the dealer to get service, they told me of a specific piece or cap that Audi routinely has problems with and this piece always needs to be replaced. I wish that I could remember the name of this part, but it makes me wonder why they don't change this part if they know it always breaks. Or they could at least notify everyone so they can have it replaced before a large problem is caused.

This sounds like a very dangerous problem and I am very surprised at audi. even if the car was never serviced by anyone, it should not cause problems like this. I was thinking strongly of buying a new a6 but now a probable will not.

Unfortunatelly I had similar experience. I had my a6 checked by Audi dealer, but after 8000km the drain line was clogged. There was heavy rain one night and the compartment where battery is was full of water, also some water got inside the car. Dealer stated that I was very lucky that there were no damage to any electrical systems. Car was dried and now running fine. Costs 100 dollars.

A clogged air conditioner drain can happen on any car. The fact that you chose to continue driving on a 500 mile trip with water pouring into the car was at best, a lapse in good judgement. I would think one would stop at some point on the way and get it checked out, which would likely have avoided the problem. Any decent mechanic, not even familiar with Audi's should diagnose that problem (after all, where else is it even possible for the water to come from, from the sounds of it, radiator would have gone dry a long time ago). This is not the criteria of a "death trap".

The advice here seems to be being given by people who are less than familiar with the Audi C4 and C5 platforms. There is a very real design flaw with the Audi drains, and water (both from the A/C and rain/car-washes) intrusion into the cabin is a frequent problem that can sometimes fry the ECU.

The argument that you need to have it serviced at an Audi dealer is absurd, especially given that Audi Club members have received prices as low as $40 to clean the drains out, and as high as $250. Furthermore, accessibility to the uncapped drains is near impossible for the home "mechanic".

I don't agree with the last comment.

I had the same problem with my Audi a6 1998. The space under the hud where battery is placed was filled with water after the heavy rain. Water was leaking in the cabin from the passengers side. I maneged to fix the problem by myself. You only have to remove the battery, remove 4 screws and a metal panel under the battery and than you can clean rubber opening very easy.

Hmm...the car is filling with water. Maybe there is something wrong? Nah! I'll just keep driving and bail it out every-so-often. Duh! Of course there was something wrong. Maybe if you had gone to the dealer with the first symptoms you wouldn't have put your family in such danger!

I have read all the comments since I have a Mercedes C class and an Audi A4 and am thinking of buying an A6. All the comments mentioned especially the Water Problem when the drain holes of ANY car are not cleared during service are issues that escalate into a problem for a very good reason which I will explain and which is true for any car. Even my C Class would do that for example. I am an independent auto mechanic. Few Auto Mechanics understand that they have to keep up to date with International Service Bulletins and Retrofits that are announced from time to time by manufacturers. You can find these on the Internet anyway. Personally, I find the time to read them since they are the cause of most problems that come up my way during my work and save me loads of time and repeat calls that my customers hate. Ex. A4 potential problems are: Water pump needs to be replaced with Timing Belt. Termostat fails and temperature remains at 60Degrees and/or goes up to beyond 90 and overheats. But ample warning is giving by the on board computer. Starting switch fail (not the key and the barrel) but cutomer would report that the lights and/or wipers and/or a/c etc, are failing sometimes! So please understand this. It is the Total Cost Of Ownership which counts. Make sure that the car is serviced and all the parts are replaced as recommended by the manufacturere and that retrofits and re-calls are installed. Mechanics tend to repair the problem that is evident and leave other problems unattended till they fail. Their behavior is geard to our attitude of trying to choose the cheapest garage charges which is more of then not achieved at the expense (sutomer's expense) of compromising the quality of the output. Someone has to pay the price of non conformance in servicing and the customer ends up paying this. Finally all the fault that I have read about the Audi are noting special and most could have been avoided.